I am thinking of breeding my border collie bitch next year when she's two and she's already had her eye checks done, all passed.So hips are next on the list but before I embark on this mission with my princess, does anyone know any good books or sources of information where I can glean knowledge of how to do this the right way.

I have read varying posts about bitches having tests done prior to mating as these needed in all breeds? Where are they done? At what point etc? I want to be certain I have done everything I can to ensure my girlie is safe and the pups are healthly.

 

BAER is a useful test for collies, because they can be affected by hereditary deafness.

I take it your bitch is genetically clear for CEA CL and TNS if not then these tests will need doing also. When you say eye checks  done does this include goinoscopy?

Yes to the gonioscopy but no to the TNS it's on the ever expanding list. Eye tests were CEA/PRA/gonioscopy all clear but intending on DNA testing as well as feel it should be done would be horrified if she was a carrier and I didn't know. I believe idexx now do these at half the rate of optigen.

I was referring to the pre mating tests as well. It seems there are things I'm not aware of eg canine herpes etc,well I'm aware of tests but what are relevant to collies and to mating in general.

Do I need to vaginal swab and culture prior to mating? Should I be insisting on the male being tested prior to mating and not just CEA etc? I know my girl is dual registered with ISDS and I'm finding it hard to find a red merle boy who's dual registered but I get the impression that's last on the list that I should be looking to learn about premating first. Which is why I'm starting now forearmed etc I want to minimise any ill effects.

So before I mate her she should have CEA/CL/TNS/GONIO/Hips/ BAER anything else?

Yes but Optigen now do both TNS and CEA and if you join one of the clinics you save quite a lot - they advertise on Optigen and many are postal, so you get your vet to take the blood sample, send to the clinic and they all get sent to USA together.

Fab thanks for that will be chatting to the vets then,good job they know me well!!

There is also a lab in slovakia that does dna testing at about half the price of idexx, and from a buccal swab which is easier but the results don't go on the KC database.

I love red merles :-) What colour is your girl?

Your vets probably wont know anything about the DNA tests unless they're collie people - there's so many of them that they don't know them all... check out which lab you want to use and what their requirements are.  Many of the clinics offer their own vet so if you can attend one you don't even need to contact your vet.  If you're in the 'south' there's a frequent clinic in the Epsom area.  Check optigen for their clinics if you're going to use them - the results go direct to KC these days.